Are lunar effects on the stock market real? Studies say yes, like this one from back in 2001:

“We find strong lunar cycle effects in stock returns. Specifically, returns in the 15 days around new moon dates are about double the returns in the 15 days around full moon dates. This patter of returns is pervasive; we find it for all major U.S. stock indexes over the last 100 years and for nearly all major stock indexes of 24 other countries over the last 30 years….Taken as a whole, this evidence is consistent with popular beliefs that lunar cycles affect human behavior.” http://nowandfutures.com/large/E2008-1-1629870.texte20lunarcycle.pdf

It is important entering retirement to have a simple plan to overcome this fact. Using a simple strategy such as those available at TSP Timing and ETF Timing will put your investing on autopilot. You can simply put all future fund transfer dates on a calendar, and then literally spend no more a few hours per year achieving superior returns that your friends won’t believe. Any cognitive decline in financial ability that you may face in the future will not matter. You may want a financial adviser for other planning and estate issues, but you will not necessarily need one for investing your TSP or IRA or similar accounts. In addition, the TSP/ETF Timing approach will be a snap for your spouse or anyone else to take over for you when the time comes. If I can do this, I’m confident that you can do this; you can easily and successfully manage your investments for life.

Vanguard’s John Bogle proved his critics wrong. Simply staying in the S&P 500 Index fund will give you better returns over time than most investing pros with actively managed funds can achieve. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/john-bogle-gets-the-last-laugh-2016-05-03 But it’s possible to do better. If past returns are any indication, actively managing index funds using well thought-out strategies can blow away the returns of the simple buy-and-hold approach.